LL Bean's Signature Collection Has About 1 Million Cute Things

Believe it. Yes, I too think of fly fishing and WASPs in sensible shoes when I think of LL Bean. But the brand has taken a cue from J. Crew and the heritage-Americana trend and SIGNIFICANTLY stepped it up in the appealing-to-younger-sorts department with their Signature collection, which references the brand's timeless signature pieces with the understanding that the Internet now exists and everything's gotten cuter. And this younger sort right here is 100 percent ready to board the USS LL Bean Signature, which is setting sail for Cuteness Cove... Or something.


As you're surely aware, LL Bean started out as a sportswear company back in approximately 1302 AD, when people depended on killing beavers to survive and needed to wear proper footwear and rainproof outdoorsy gear to then trade the fur pelts for crude forms of thread and early iPod docking stations. I mean... that's kind of a fractured version of LL Bean's history, but I'm pretty sure it's pretty close. LL Bean was clothing of necessity, not of desire. But their Signature collection, which was given a retro update and features smart, sophisticated, easy-to-wear and simple-to-style summer staples, is a far cry from what your great grandfather, Ulysses P. McGillicutty Honeypot, wore to roll logs and shuck clams or whatever olde-tymey people from New England did back then. Or still do. I don't know. I'm from Cleveland.


Whatever, check out the seahorse pants and looks I love from the lookbook, which was styled by The Glamourai.

$79.99, LL Bean Signature

Y'all. LL Bean Signature seahorse batik pants must be seen to be fully appreciated. I bought a pair, and they're so Carole King-dreamy, and you'd best believe I'll style them with a leather jacket and my Tuleste Market black open-toe rosette booties. Also, you're in luck, because the seahorse pants are on sale for $79.

$59, LL Bean Signature

And like, would YOU EVER in your life think LL Bean would tie-dye ANYTHING? No. You'd be out of your mind. But you're not. Because it's happening. Oh, and this purple tie-dyed maxi skirt is also on sale. No, this isn't heaven. You're actually awake.

$59, LL Bean Signature 

Cute batik boatneck top! Never in a million could I, a woman with, let's say, ample curves, pull this off, but if you're not chesty, I imagine this would look full-frontal adorbs on you. And if you have black leather pants, I really think you should do that.

$79, LL Bean Signature
See? Twill school-teacher skirts can be SO CUTE!

$89, LL Bean Signature
REALLY cute bellbottom jeans, right?

$149, LL Bean Signature

I actually might consider violating my own no-ruffles-on-adults rule for this silk 8-bit crane print dress.

Oh yeah, LL Bean Signature has perma free shipping. Which is just beyond generous if you ask me.

Disclosure: I was invited to a private press preview and received a gift card. The more you know!

J. Crew's Sequin Skirt Is Gorgeous, But It's Also $695

J. Crew's gone mental for pencil skirts, and I'll join them on that holiday. Except for the price-prohibitive factor of their sublime sequin pencil skirt, which costs $695:

$695, J. Crew

If I'm to believe the accompanying copy -- and generally I do because why not? -- the sequins were applied by hand, which is no joke. But I'm also fairly confident that this skirt costs so much because the sequins are each individually affixed by Jenna Lyons' own hair. Now THAT'S what I call commitment.

Lust List: Vanessa G Designs, Issa London Kaftan, Kate Spade Cobble Hill Bag

ift up your head, and dry your eyes, because I'm back with another lust list. Perhaps because it's hotter than the fiery depths of Hades (and because I need to get them out of my system before the wines, greens, burgundies and ochres of fall) I'm tending toward bold, bright, flaming-hot colors. Let's start with...

($179, Issa, Catrionamackechnie.com)

This Issa kaftan is the EMBODIMENT of my desire to live a full-time late-60s/ early '70s lifestyle. As well as a peacock. A late '60s peacock.

YOU GUISE. Vanessa Gounden's Vanessa G collection is STUN.NING. She's a South African designer who, as you can see, designs with the eye of a museum curator, which is why her photo-realistic prints look like she pulled a Monet off the wall at the Lourve and whipped it into a silken piece of wearable art. Here's more about Vanessa G in Vogue.

An adorable leather Kate Spade fold-over bag the color of a tangerine? Yes, I will partake in that. And it's the Cobble Hill Leslie bag. And as a Brooklyner, that's basically fate.

Reason To Start Buying Scratch-Off Tickets: This Alica + Olivia Tan Leather Tulip Skirt

($495, Alice + Olivia, Bloomingdales.com)

Is it sad that I don't think it's sad to consider selling one's own plasma for this Alice + Olivia tan leather tulip skirt? Should I not have admitted to that thought?

The Most Terrifying Skirt Ever Created

Today I learned that my nightmares are made of tweed and cost $2100.

($2100, Brian Lichtenberg Gizmo skirt, Alexandchloe.com)

Also, if you're interested in haute horror, please be advised that this skirt only comes in a 4-6. Sorry, ladies!

You're REALLY Gonna Need This Nautical Striped Blazer From LOFT

UPDATE: Check out LOFT's nautical striped blazer in all of its glory!

($98, Loft)

Last night I went to the LOFT Holiday 2010 presentation, and while I liked what they were doing with subtle updates to winter classics -- the preppy tweed skirt below with a black silk overlay -- I left with one piece on my YES PLEASE list. The nautical striped wool blazer above. Is it a Givenchy's Springl 2010 blue and white striped blazer? Who can say? But I love the idea of warm wool jacket in a theme usually associated with warmer months. (More cool Breton striped tops here at Dreamhaute.)

And check out that Karen Walker/ Coco Chanel-inspired Breton striped top with a cute floral overlay. Cute on its own or layered under a blazer or safari jacket. I'm into it!

Oh, and speaking of safari jacket, I've been meaning to pick up Loft's safari jacket for forevs. Laziness alone has been a barrier to my owning that jacket:

($79.50, LOFT)

Seriously though, put aside your Mom-jeans conception of LOFT, because they're really stepping their game up (if you're not getting a J.Crew-y vibe already.) And they LOVE a sale. I got an amazing pair of black pegleg harem pants that look like Vanessa Bruno/ Phillip Lim for like $19. They practically paid me to buy them. Point is: LOFT = LOVE

Watercolor Skirts

Jeez, these things are everywhere, huh? Check out the beaut I snagged today at the Twinkle by Wenlan sample sale. It made me feel like a lady, even though I was trying it on over my Old Navy jeans.



Twinkle by Wenlan Spin and Twirl Skirt in Yellow Art Class, $141 for you; $50 for me. I win!